OUR MISSION

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by proclaiming the good news of God's grace.

OUR VALUES

1. EVERY PERSON IS A TREASURE TO GOD, AND MATTERS TO US. SO EVERY PERSON REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY COME FROM IS WELCOME IN THE HOUSE OF GOD

2. WE BELIEVE THAT GOD UNCONDITIONALLY LOVES EVERYONE AND CALLS US TO BE LIGHTS IN OUR WORLD BY SPREADING HIS LOVE AND HOPE TO EVERYONE

3.GROWING DEEPER IN CHRIST WILL ALLOW US TO HONOR GOD AND LIVE IN THE FREEDOM OF WHO HE HAS MADE US TO BE

4.WE BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS DESIGNED US TO SERVE HIM AND TO SERVE OTHERS THROUGH OUR WORDS, ACTIONS, AND SPIRITS

We believe that every individual is a valuable member of our community, deserving of acceptance and understanding. Whether you feel disconnected, uncertain, or simply searching for a place to belong, our church doors are wide open for you.

We embrace the power of love and compassion. Our purpose is not to criticize or scrutinize, but rather to support and uplift one another. We understand that life can be complicated and challenging, and we are here to walk alongside you on your journey.

So, if you are yearning for connection, seeking guidance, or simply curious about what we have to offer, we invite you to step inside our church. You will find a warm and welcoming community ready to embrace you with open arms. Our commitment is to foster an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

No matter where you come from or what you believe, you are an important part of our diverse congregation. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and believe that our differences make us stronger. Together, we can learn from one another, grow in our faith, and make a positive impact on the world around us.

So, come as you are, without fear or hesitation. Our church doors are open wide, waiting to welcome you into a community that will embrace you with love, acceptance, and understanding.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

What We Believe About Scripture:

The United Methodist denomination is based on Scripture; and at Rapid City First United Methodist Church, we preach the Bible every Sunday. We believe the Bible is authoritative and trustworthy. Therefore, we take the Bible seriously. We believe it is the divinely inspired true rule and guide for faith and practice. In fact, we believe it is the primary source for theology and doctrine.

As Protestant Christians have believed for more than 500 years, we offer up the Bible for study, interpretation, and understanding by all people, not just religious professionals.

We believe and teach that both of what are called the Old and New Testaments reveal the Word of God and contain all that is necessary for salvation. Therefore, we do not hold as an article of faith nor require as essential for salvation anything not contained in Holy Scriptures.

With most Protestants, we believe there may have been errors in copying and translating the Scriptures as they moved from place to place and into various languages. We, along with most Protestants, believe that Biblical texts should be interpreted in their historical, cultural, and literary contexts.

However, we don’t look to the Bible as a science book or expect archeological historians to prove every story in the Bible as scientific historical fact.

While we believe Scripture is divinely inspired, our doctrines have never mentioned such terms as “inerrant” or “infallible.” By “inspired,” we are not saying that God dictated Scripture to humans who recorded it without error and transmitted it flawlessly into our language where it all can be used uncritically in every time and place.

We find the Bible is sometimes in tension with itself and reconciling those tensions takes careful interpretation. Following in the footsteps of our 18th century British founder, John Wesley, we believe the clearer Scriptures may shed light on the unclear.

As United Methodists, we value conversations set apart for the purpose of understanding and applying Scripture. We love to put Scripture in dialogue and would love to put you in dialogue with Scripture, with us, and each other about how God might be speaking to you through Holy Scripture. If you have questions, please reach out to one of our pastors.